2 answers
Adrian
Student
Planada, CA
3
Questions
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physician
requirements needed to become a physician . I am a freshman #physician
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2 answers
Spencer Hirt
Physician
2
Answers
Oceanside, California
Updated
Spencer’s Answer
Becoming a physician takes some planning and commitment to a long haul of education. There is not a single path or timeline to get there, but most share some commonalities.
Minimum requirements are:
-Bachelor’s Degree (any degree) (4 years on average)
-Successful completion of prerequisite courses (Google “Med school prerequisite classes” for a complete list)
-complete the MCAT (standardized test)
-Volunteer/research/shadowing/extra curricular requirements (requirements vary by Med school)
-apply to Med school, complete interviews and get accepted.
-Complete medical school and all required board exams (4 years)
-Complete residency in specialty field and all required board exams (3-7 years).
That being said, each step along the way is competitive, so the better you do in school/tests, the more likely you will move on to the next step in the school/field of choice.
In addition, good people make good doctors, so it is more than just getting good grades. Med schools want to see we’ll-rounded students who have experience and a story to tell.
On the practical side, one must also consider how to pay for all of this education. Student loans can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Seek scholarships, work part-time, attend less-expensive schools, consider military or National Health Service Corps, etc.
Minimum requirements are:
-Bachelor’s Degree (any degree) (4 years on average)
-Successful completion of prerequisite courses (Google “Med school prerequisite classes” for a complete list)
-complete the MCAT (standardized test)
-Volunteer/research/shadowing/extra curricular requirements (requirements vary by Med school)
-apply to Med school, complete interviews and get accepted.
-Complete medical school and all required board exams (4 years)
-Complete residency in specialty field and all required board exams (3-7 years).
That being said, each step along the way is competitive, so the better you do in school/tests, the more likely you will move on to the next step in the school/field of choice.
In addition, good people make good doctors, so it is more than just getting good grades. Med schools want to see we’ll-rounded students who have experience and a story to tell.
On the practical side, one must also consider how to pay for all of this education. Student loans can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Seek scholarships, work part-time, attend less-expensive schools, consider military or National Health Service Corps, etc.
Rachel Weinheimer
Surgeon
1121
Answers
Amarillo, Texas
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
The best route for you into the medical field depends on what role you would like to play and how long you want to spend in school. In order to apply to medical school, you will have to complete college with a bachelor’s degree as well as all of the Pre-med requirements. GPA should probably be 3.5 or better. You will also have to score well on the MCAT. Once you complete 4 years of medical school, you may apply for a minimum of a 3-year residency. Following that, you will have the opportunity to apply for a fellowship that is often 3 more years. We are looking at 11+ years of training after high school, but the reward of being a physician and caring for patients is unmatched.